HAMLET

Tragedy

A serious drama that typically depicts the downfall of a protagonist due to a tragic flaw or a conflict with powerful forces.

Tragic Hero

A protagonist in a tragedy who has noble birth or high social standing but possesses a flaw leading to downfall.

Tragic Flaw/Hamartia

The fatal flaw or error in judgment that leads to the tragic hero's downfall.

Catharsis

The emotional release or purification experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy.

Nemesis

The opposing force or antagonist that brings about the downfall of the tragic hero.

Catastrophe

The disastrous conclusion or final outcome of the tragic events in a play.

Hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance that often leads to the downfall of the tragic hero.

Verse Drama

A play written in verse, typically poetry.

Blank Verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter, a common poetic form used in Shakespearean drama.

Meter

The rhythmic pattern of a line of verse, determined by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Iambic Pentameter

A line of verse consisting of five metrical feet, each with one unstressed followed by one stressed syllable.

Aside

A short speech delivered by an actor directly to the audience, not heard by other characters.

Soliloquy

A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, expressing their inner thoughts and feelings.

Inciting Incident

The event that sets the plot of the story in motion and introduces the central conflict.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about future events in the story, creating suspense.

Denouement

The final resolution or outcome of the plot of a play or story.

Dramatic Irony

A situation where the audience knows something that a character does not.

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story.

Static Character

A character who remains essentially unchanged throughout the story.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight their qualities.